Tatiana guided Elena through the hallway and into her room, closing the door softly behind them.
Elena's eyes were still red, her breaths shaky, her voice trembling as she tried to explain everything.
"Elena," Tatiana whispered, sitting beside her on the bed. "What happened? Tell me slowly."
And Elena did. She told her about Alex, about Isabel, about her aunt—her mother—and the lies. The betrayal. The slap. The humiliation. Every word came out broken, her hands shaking as Tatiana held them tightly.
Tatiana's eyes widened in disbelief. "Elena… your aunt… is Isabel's mother?"
Elena wiped her face with her sleeve, nodding helplessly. "I—I don't even know what to think anymore. Everything is just too much."
Tatiana felt guilt punch her chest. "Elena… I told you to go meet Alex. I'm so sorry. I didn't know he would do anything like that. If I had known—"
